DEV Community: Michael Hendsbee

Customer Centricity and App Development – A Perfect Match

Michael Hendsbee — Mon, 30 May 2022 19:09:18 +0000

Customer centricity isn’t a new concept, per se. Instead, it’s a very old concept that business owners and thought leaders have recently breathed new life into.

The term literally refers to putting the customer at the center. But it’s more than just a buzzy way of saying “customer-first” or “service-oriented.” Customer centricity puts the consumer relationship at the nexus of every business decision, every design choice, every conversation.

Think of it this way: A customer-centric business doesn’t please customers to make a sale; they make a sale so that they please customers. Everything leads back to customer satisfaction – even sales. By prioritizing customer satisfaction over other, traditionally more important metrics (like sales, conversion rates, revenue growth), a business can ensure long-term success, retention and loyalty.

This article explores how app development plays a critical role in facilitating customer centricity by applying emerging technologies and human-focused design principles.

App Development and Customer Centricity

As businesses increasingly move into digital and mobile spaces, maintaining a customer-centric approach has become more challenging. How do you empathize with, listen to, and guide a customer without a human face in the room? That’s where quality app developers prove indispensable.

App development is the key to a customer-centric approach. By bringing to bear intuitive UI, emerging technologies and engaging design features, app developers can forge deeper connections between companies and their customers.

Customer-First Approach Built Right into the UI

It starts with creating apps that people want to use: simple, cleanly designed apps that intuitively guide the user. Good mobile app design goes beyond aesthetics; it considers the relationship between the app and its users. Check out the portfolio from this app development company in Toronto for examples of stunning UI spun from a customer-centric approach.

Leveraging AI-Powered Bots to Deliver the “Delight Factor”

“Customer delight” is the process of surpassing consumer expectations by adding value in unexpected places. It can be as simple as providing quick customer service to a query, or as complicated as offering personalized product recommendations. It’s the role that a particularly passionate customer service rep would play in a brick-and-mortar store. In a digital space, companies can leverage AI to deliver the delight factor by implementing chatbots.

The Endless Possibilities of AR/VR Technology

Forward-thinking app development companies also use AR/VR technology to deliver customer delight. Clothing retailers can use AR to allow customers to “try on” clothing. A hotel might leverage VR to offer room tours for prospective patrons. In either case, these immersive technologies craft an experience on the way toward sales – because, often, where customer satisfaction is concerned, the journey is more important than the destination.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There are several other opportunities for customer centricity in the app development process (Blockchain for greater security and transparency, speech recognition for accessibility, etc.).

If you’re a company looking to reach out to its customers in a more meaningful way, the best place to start is with a quality app developer. The best app development companies won’t just make you a product – they will bring you closer to your customers.

The Many Industries that Benefit from High-Quality, Rugged Computers

Michael Hendsbee — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 17:30:48 +0000

With so many advances in computer technology, it can be difficult to tell where certain industries will be by 2030. With the rise of IoT (the Internet of Things), automation, robotics, and AI, we could be looking at a major sea change headed our way.

But one thing that won’t be changing is the need for durable, water-proof computers in the fields of marine navigation, farming, and the restaurant business. If you run a business in any of these fields, a rugged, waterproof computer monitor will help keep your business afloat. Here’s why.

The Marine Sector

The marine sector is embracing cloud technology to better catalog and communicate key points of data. In fact, cloud-based fleet management software is changing how day-to-day operations in this sector are carried out. But the machines that organize and validate this data need to be protected from the harsh conditions at sea, as well as the regular wear-and-tear that any onboard devices experience.

The right high-quality, rugged computer will stand the test of time as well as the elements, to ensure that you complete your day’s work without losing access to the cloud.

The Farming Sector

Rugged computers are one of the key pieces of technology you can have on an industrial farm. Your computers need to be able to withstand extreme weather conditions as well as the chaos and rigor of farm life.

With round-the-clock industrial farming becoming the norm, top-of-the-line computers that offer LCD touchscreens for nighttime work are a must. Even in poor lighting conditions, you need to be able to rely on your computers to help you collate data and get the job done.

The Restaurant Industry

The POS (or Point of Sale) system has revolutionized the way restaurants do business. In the fast-paced front-of-house environment, servers need to quickly be able to enter their orders or change them on the fly, and the right rugged computer system will ensure that the POS system runs smoothly throughout the entire dinner rush.

In the back of the house, where high temperatures and regular food spillages are the norm, it’s even more important that the computer system you have installed can stand up to the environment.

Kitchen and wait staff use high-quality computers to:

• Keep track of every order
• Manage inventory
• Organize schedules

With the right, physically resistant, waterproof, heat-resistant computers, you’ll be able to focus on what you do best — delivering quality food to your patrons, without worrying about the state of your POS system. Look for the right custom-made rugged POS hard drives, monitors, and keyboards for your kitchen needs.

With the right industrial-grade computers, you can rest assured knowing you have constant access to the information, applications, and back-up systems to help you succeed, whether you operate in the marine sector, farming, the restaurant business, public safety, energy & mining, transportation, the hospital/medical industry, or in factories and manufacturing.

Find the best supplier of custom-made, rugged computers today. You and your business will be glad you did!

Building an App or Website? What You Need to Know When Hiring

Michael Hendsbee — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 15:40:35 +0000

Building a successful virtual business requires a team of professionals that understand the brand’s vision and know-how to develop it in a growing market. Whether you’re interested in developing an app for your business, or perhaps a new website, the right team will be instrumental in the process.

Let’s break down the key qualities you’ll need to look for when finding the right app developer and website designer — the twin pillars of your online presence.

Finding the Right App Developer

According to Evans Data Corporation, there are approximately 23 million professionals working as desktop, mobile, and web developers worldwide. This may seem like a daunting number when deciding how best to find the professionals that are right for your company, but by following simple guidelines it can be a positive experience.

With the growing list of apps circling the market, having a clear vision for your business is an important first step. Are you looking to solve a problem in the market? Is there a niche you feel hasn’t been tapped into yet? Once you’ve identified your end goal, you can find a developer that has experience in that industry.

They should also understand how important communication is between their team and you, to ensure you’re involved at every iterative stage of development so your vision isn’t compromised.

Finding a developer whose process is lean and efficient will ensure less bureaucracy while maintaining quick turnarounds and low overhead. Because the process has a number of steps — defining the idea, to building the wireframe and UI, and adequate testing — full transparency will provide your company with peace of mind and assure that your app is going to reach the maximum number of users.

Choosing the Right Website Designer

There are a number of mistakes to avoid when it comes to web design, but the first step to avoiding trouble is knowing what to look for in your designer. Asking the right questions upfront will eliminate any unnecessary work.

Asking how they approach usability will help you gauge how important they believe efficient and user-friendly websites should be. You want your designer to operate on the highest level, and that means putting the user first, envisioning how they would move through the website without hassle. If a designer can’t explain the user journey to you, they probably aren’t up to the task.

They should have a list of past work available to show any interested parties. Their resume should showcase the quality of work they offer and the range of designs they can provide. If they have a variety of creative designs, it shows that they can adapt to their client's varying needs, because you may want to change aspects of your website throughout the design process. The right designer will help accommodate and will always be open to communicating.

Ensure you’ve confirmed pricing before you engage in a professional relationship, whether that translates into a fixed rate or if their commission is based on an hourly rate.

By simply asking the right questions and ensuring you and your app developer and web designer are on the same page, finding the right professionals to help grow your business should be a breeze.

The Top Programming Languages Computer Loving Kids Should Learn

Michael Hendsbee — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 22:24:55 +0000

When you have a kid who just loves computers, you have a kid who’s getting an early start on a skill set that will reap them rewards their whole lives. Programming is a skill that’s useful in sectors far beyond computer science. It’s in high demand in finance, medicine, manufacturing, robotics, entertainment, and more.

The role of programmers is only growing. As the world becomes increasingly automated and more of our work and social lives take place on screen, the more the world needs great programmers.

If your child is the type who loves problem-solving, making things, teaching themselves new things, and spending hours on their computer, give them a chance to learn how to code. Today, there are more opportunities than ever for kids as young as the age of 7 and up to 18.

You can give your child an opportunity to learn valuable skills by signing up for coding classes for kids online available for a range of ages and skill levels. When you do, make sure they’re going to be learning the programming languages that are in demand around the world.

1) Python

Python is at the top of the list when it comes to widespread programming languages in use today. It’s relatively easy to use and kids can even start to learn it at intermediate levels. Python is widely used in web development and it’s the language behind apps like YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, and more.

Not only that, Python is also widely used in robotics programming, a skill that’s becoming highly sought-after as manufacturing turns toward increased automation.

2) C++

C++ is one of the foundations of programming, supplying the code for things like operating systems, file systems, and blockbuster console games. It’s a great foundation for kids to learn that will give them a wider range of career options, from system-level programming to game development with some of the biggest game companies.

3) Java

Java is a programming language that large organizations tend to look for due to its stability and the fact that it uses up less memory through multithreading. When it comes to gaming, multithreading makes more out of available CPU and is a common feature of multiplayer games.

4) JavaScript

The frontend programming language commonly used to create rich interfaces, it’s become the programming language of the web. With a background in JavaScript, programmers can build websites, apps, games, servers, art – and so much more.

5) C-Sharp

Developed by Microsoft as a kind of all-purpose language, C# is the most common language used for both Xbox and Windows games through the Unity engine, as well as Window mobile apps or any time of development for Windows.

There are many other programming languages out there, such as Swift for building iOS apps or PHP, but those are specialized skills your child might decide to pursue as they get older and start thinking about careers in programming. The above five programming languages are the perfect starting points for teenagers taking coding classes online.

What You Need to Know About Updating Your Website in 2020

Michael Hendsbee — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 20:26:05 +0000

Is a new website on the top of your business' to-do list in 2020? Or maybe you're just looking to refresh and revamp your existing site.

The web design and SEO playbooks have changed a lot over the last couple of years. So, if you built your last site in 2015 or 2016, you need to know a few things about today's online marketing landscape.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for your new website.

Mobile-First Indexing is the Norm

If you created a website a few years ago, you likely designed and planned your desktop site first, and then checked to make sure it looked/worked OK on a mobile device. That's not how things should work in 2020.

Google has switched to mobile-first indexing. This means you need mobile-first design, not responsive design.

Your site needs to do more than just look "OK" on a mobile device. You need it to be fully optimized for mobile CRO and SEO. Even if you don't think that your users will look at your mobile site, you need to remember that Google will.

Load Times are Massive

Speed has never been more crucial on the web, particularly in the mobile-first world. Google's speed update made your mobile site's load time a crucial component in your SEO value.

The faster your site is, the more you're setting it up to succeed in ranking with Google, as well as producing leads and sales. This means you should keep running lean at the top of the list of design considerations. Also, don't choose a cheap web host. Spend a little bit more money to host your WordPress site with a trusted and reputable host to ensure maximum speed and uptime. 5G networks and fast connections is one of the most important tech trends this year, so you want to make sure you can take advantage of this, especially on mobile.

Audit Your Link Profile

It's also important to know that your previous website's link building sins will be passed on to the new one if you're using the same URLs. Your link profile will follow you to the new site, and could doom the new site to fail before you even hit 'Publish.'

The quantity and quality of links pointing towards your domain can make or break your website. You need to know who's linking to you and why. If you have bad links out there, you're being punished for them as we speak.

Ensure this new site can rank well by auditing your link footprint with a tool like ahrefs or SEMRush. See who's linking to you and address any undesirable or spammy links right now before the new site goes live.

You can also use this tool to see what links are pointing at your competitors' sites. If one of these sites has posted a guest blog from a competitor, they may be open to publishing something from you.

It's hard to guarantee a website's success. However, you can just about guarantee a site's failure if you're not thinking about your mobile site, your load times, or your link profile. However, if you're mindful of those 3 things, you're giving your new site a rock-solid chance of performing well.